Joseph s



4NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.`

JOSEPH S. SEAMAN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, JAMES B. YOUNG, AND ROBERT SLEETH, ALL OF SAME PLAGE.

SPLlCE-BAR FOR RAIL-JOINTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,900, dated May 1, 188,3.

Application tiled January 27, 1883. (No model.)

` tion thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speciiicatio'n, in which-like letters indicating like parts- Figure l is a top plan view ot' a rail-joint illustrative ot my present invention; and Figs.

rail, showing the splice in end eleva-tion.

My invention relates to certain improvements in rail-joints and in the construction of splicebars therefor; and it consists, in general terms, of a splice-bar for such joint of rail form, having the ange on one side set up7 to lap over or onto the flange of the `rail proper, and also by preference having a groove in the side edge of the head adapted to receive the adjacent edge of the rail-head, and in certain combinations of such splice-bar with the rails,

and with means for securing them together, as hereinafter morefully described and claimed.

In rolling railroad-rails, especially of steel, it is customary to cut ott' two or three feet from each end to insure perfectly sound metal in the rail. These crop-ends, together with defeetive rails, always produced to some extent, have heretofore been considered waste produetsand practically worthless, except for purposesof reworking, at a considerable expense, into, other articles, or for remeltin g.

The purpose of my present invention is `to utilize such crop-ends and defective rails to better advantage and bycheaper methods than heretofore, by making them into splice-bars for rail-joints, and thereby secure not only economy, but also a superior construction of bar and joint.

In making my improved splice-bar the cropends and defective rails, having aform in crosssection the same as the rail, but of varying lengths, are, while still hot, passed through suitably-grooved rolls to set up or raise up one side flange of the foot, forming a recess in the bottom corresponding to the rail-liange,

-ber.

\` so that the former may overlap the latter and rest thereon, with the other or unbent flange resting on the tie; and in the same passIprefer to roll a groove in the side edge of the head, adapted to receive the adjacent edge of the rail-head. This work may be done by suitably-grooved rolls, either in one or in several passes, and, when done, the crop-ends or rails so shaped are cut or sheared into the desired lengths for splice-bars. These features of construction are illustrated in the drawings, in which- A A represent portions of two rails secured `in the usual manner to eross-ties-B B. 2 and 3 are transverse sectional views of the My improved splice-bar is represented at O` combined with the rails for the purpose ot' ef,- fecting a joint. In general form it is similar to the rails, and its length is equal to the distance between two ties, so that its ends may rest upon and be secured to the same, as pres-f ently described. One `side flange, c', of the splice-bar is set up by rolling, as before described, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) formingadepression- 4 or recess in the bottom face of the foot corre- 7 5 spending to the side flange a ofthe rail, so that the flange c may overlap and rest upon iiange et, with the other side flange, c, of the splice-bar resting dat upon the face ot' the ties. I also form by preference a groove, c2, along the side edge of the splice-bar, adapted in size and form .to receive the adjacent edge of rail-head a', (see Fig. 3,) and thereby bring the bar and rail into closer relationship and lock them more effectually against vertical dis- 8' placement.

In forming joints the splice-bar C is placed on or `against the outside of the rails and bolted thereto by the usualbolts,e,in any desired num- The splice-bar is also secured to the ties along its side c by any desired number of spikes b b', the latter being represented as driven through notches cut in the flange. I. also prefer to drive spikes b2 at the ends of the splice-bar, (see Fig. 1,) which are turned so as to incline the spike-heads inward and cause them to bear upon the iiange c. The bolts e and lapping anges a c will form a rigid and secure connection between the rail ends sufficient for ordinary purposes; but by matching the head a into the groove c2 such connection is materially strengthened and improved, both by affording greater overlapping surface between the ian ges and shorter bolt-connections, also by the interlocking engagement which is made thereby between the heads. If still greater security is desired against vertical movement between the rails and splice-bar, a block, e', Fig. 2, may be placed in the inclosed space between the rail ends and splice-bar and held therein by the bolts e. This block, bearing upon the liange cbelow and heads ot' the rails and splice-bar above, will supplement the connection made by the bolts and anges and add materially tothe security of such connection. This block c may be used either with or without the grooves c2, though with such grooves there will be less occasion for its use. It may be made either of suitable length to be inserted between bolts e, or it may be longer and provided with bolt-holes adapted to registerfwith the holes in the rail ends and in the splice-bar. I t` desired, the usual or any suitable form of fish-plate or splice-bars may be used on the inside ofthe rails; but ordinarily they will not be needed.

By this improvement l not only utilize the waste product of rails with tritling expense in 4ttting, but I also secure a very strong and safe joint-connection. .3o

Also, by employing a splicebar of rail form and ofthe same height as the rails, thejoint is bridged by a short section which carries the wheels, and thus prevents bat tering the'rail ends, and this advantage is secured without cutting into the rails, thereby weakening them and adding materially to the expense of manufacture as colnmonlypracticed heretofore, where attempt was made to bridge the rail ends with the splice-bar. These features of utility, cheapness ot' construction and fitting, and the profitable use made ot' waste material are important considerations, and outweigh the value of the material employed, especially considering the expense necessarily involved in working it over into other forms or remelting it.

I claim hereinas my inventionl. A splice-bar, C, of rail form, having one flange, e', set up or raised above the plane of its other liange, to overlap the rail-flange, substantially as set forth.

2. A splice-bar, C, otl rail form, having one flange, 0', raised or set up above the plane of the other, and having a groove, c2, formed in the side edges of its head, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with rails A A and ties B B, a splice-bar, U, of rail form, having one flange, c', set up or raised to overlap the lian ge a of the rails, and bolts e, substantially as set forth.

4. A rail-joint having in combination rails A A, bolts e, and splice-bar C, the latter being of rail form, with one flange, c', raised to oven lap the liange a of the rails,and grooved along its side edge c2, to receive the head ot' the rails, substantially as set forth.

5. The splice-bar C, of rail form, having one ang'e, c', raised above the plane of the other, in combination with rails A A,bolts e, and inclosed block e', substantially as and l'or the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH S. SEAMAN.`

- Witnesses:

R. H. WHITTLEsEY, G. L. PARKER. 

